Shutter assembly

Abstract

A shutter assembly including a plurality of shutter panels arranged side-by-side. Each shutter panel has a respective plurality of louvers and a respective operable tilt mechanism configured to adjust the tilt angle of the respective plurality of louvers. A control shaft operates the tilt mechanisms. The control shaft is configured to drive simultaneously the respective tilt mechanisms of all of the plurality of shutter panels.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A shutter assembly comprising:
 a plurality of shutter panels arranged side-by-side, each shutter panel including a respective plurality of louvers and a respective tilt mechanism configured to adjust a tilt angle of said respective plurality of louvers, said respective tilt mechanism comprising one of a plurality of tilt mechanisms provided in operative association with said plurality of shutter panels; 
 a control shaft for operating each of said plurality of tilt mechanisms; and 
 a plurality of respective clutches, each respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches operatively coupled between said control shaft and a corresponding tilt mechanism of said plurality of tilt mechanisms; 
 wherein: 
 said control shaft is configured to simultaneously drive said plurality of tilt mechanisms; and 
 each said respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches is configured to allow relative slip between said control shaft and said corresponding tilt mechanism. 
 
     
     
       2. The shutter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each said respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches is configured to allow relative slip between said control shaft and said corresponding tilt mechanism when said tilt angle of said respective plurality of louvers operatively coupled to said corresponding tilt mechanism is being manually adjusted. 
     
     
       3. The shutter assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor operatively coupled to said control shaft, said motor rotationally driving said control shaft. 
     
     
       4. The shutter assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each said respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches is operable with said motor such that, when said motor is operated to rotate said control shaft, each said respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches is engaged to allow motion transfer between said control shaft and said corresponding tilt mechanism, and, when said motor is not being operated to rotate said control shaft, each said respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches allows relative slip between said control shaft and said corresponding tilt mechanism. 
     
     
       5. The shutter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each said respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches is operable to decouple said corresponding tilt mechanism from said control shaft. 
     
     
       6. The shutter assembly of  claim 5 , wherein each said respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches is operable such that, when said control shaft is rotated, each said respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches is engaged to allow motion transfer between said control shaft and said corresponding tilt mechanism, and, when said control shaft is not rotated, each said respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches allows relative slip between said control shaft and said corresponding tilt mechanism. 
     
     
       7. The shutter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each said respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches allows relative slip between said control shaft and said corresponding tilt mechanism when said respective plurality of louvers operatively coupled to said corresponding tilt mechanism have been tilted to a maximum tilt angle. 
     
     
       8. The shutter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each said respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches provides a breakaway resistance between said control shaft and said corresponding tilt mechanism. 
     
     
       9. The shutter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each said respective clutch of said plurality of respective clutches is configured to provide engagement between said control shaft and said corresponding tilt mechanism via one of mechanical engagement, magnetic engagement, or electromagnetic engagement.